My Weekend Getaway at Hawks Cay Island Resort in Duck Key

Taking Care of Mama Bear" - This is something I have heard often since starting my journey as a Macaroni Kid Publisher Mom. Macaroni Kid Founder and Chief Macaroni Mom, Joyce Shulman, is pretty diligent about reminding us moms how important it is to replenish and renew the well, so to speak, in order to continue giving freely of ourselves and be the best moms we can be. So, when the opportunity to take a little "me" time with some of my Macaroni Sisters came up, I asked MacDad if he could handle being Mister Mom for a weekend, and when he said, "no problem!", I packed my bags and headed off to Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys for some relaxing Mama Bear time! 

Hawks Cay Resort is located in Duck Key, which is about a three and a half hour drive from here -- not too bad considering the tropical paradise that is the Keys! I did pick up a fellow MK publisher on the way down, so the good company and great conversation certainly made the drive time pass rather quickly.

As we approached the grounds of Hawks Cay, I remember seeing the entrance sign and feeling a little giddy that I was actually "doing this" without my hubby and MiniMac. I must admit a twinge of mommy guilt tried to creep in but it was quickly extinguished as my eyes took in the splendor of the beautiful resort in front of me. I couldn't wait to get up to our room, get into my swimsuit, and join the other Mac-Sisters who, we quickly discovered, were waiting for us at the resort's saltwater lagoon.

Ah, the lagoon.....a sandy oasis filled with clear, blue water, fed directly from the ocean, where you can lounge on the beach with a good book and an umbrella drink in your hand, or, if action is more your style, swim, snorkel, or paddle around in the tiki boats till the sun goes down. Because the water of this lagoon comes straight from the ocean, it rises and lowers with the tide, making it a unique attraction found only at Hawks Cay. 

After enjoying a few hours at the lagoon it was time to clean up for a welcome reception at the Coral Cay Pool, which was hosted by the resort. Understanding that we were publishers of a parenting resource, we dined on great family staples like pizza, macaroni & cheese, PB&J and grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken fingers, hot dogs & hamburgers.....oh, and of course, some fabulous wine! It was AWESOME! Naturally, my mind turned to my little picky-eater girl back home as I realized that all her favorite foods were represented here and how I likely wouldn't have a problem getting her to eat this! Point scored for Hawks Cay. 


During the reception the team at Hawks Cay told us a little about the resort and some of the great amenities like Snuba, snorkeling, and the other water sports they hoped we'd enjoy during our stay. I heard about all the engaging activities available for Teens (ages 13 to 17) and learned about the Coral Cay Kids Club and the exciting options available to keep Kids and Tweens (ages 5 to 12) happily entertained. Afterwards, I walked over to the Pirate Ship Pool where some of my MK Sisters were having a blast going down the slide and splashing in the water. Exploring further, I came upon the volleyball court, swing sets, play structures, soccer/sports field, and, my personal favorite, the 18-hole golf putting course! Hawks Cay certainly left no stone unturned in the area of entertainment options for kids!  

One of the main attractions of Hawks Cay Resort is the very popular Dolphin Connection, where you can interact with bottlenose dolphins - and even swim with them! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to participate in an up-close dolphin encounter, but I did get to watch them from the viewing area and they are truly an awesome site to behold. As I was watching the dolphins, again my mind turned to my girl and how much I knew she would LOVE to take part in the dolphin encounter. In my mind's eye I could picture her swimming with the dolphins and see the absolute joy on her face. Now wait a minute....this was supposed to be my vacation from mommyhood, yet I couldn't stop thinking about how awesome this place would be for my child. I guess you can take the mommy away from her kids but you can't take the kids off of a mommy's brain! Hmm....I'm okay with that!


During my stay at Hawks Cay I learned that the resort consists of 177 rooms in the main hotel, most of which have private balconies and amazing views. Their "family guestroom" option features a king sized bed and a bunk bed with a full sized bed on the bottom and twin sized bed on top...perfect for the kids! There are also two and three bedroom villas and vacation rentals spread throughout the property. I image the rentals would be ideal for taking a longer family vacation or if you are traveling with another family. There are plenty of dining options from the Ocean Restaurant, to the casual Beach Grill, and the more refined Alma where you can enjoy an elegant dining experience. I dined at both the Ocean and Alma during my stay and I must stay the food was fantastic! 

There are 5 pools at the resort, including the lagoon described above, the main and very spacious resort pool, the Pirate Ship Pool (perfect for the little ones), the Coral Cay Pool - close to the Pirate Ship pool and kids area, the Sunset Pool, and the  21 and over Tranquility pool, which is where I spent much of my "down" time. We even rented a cabana one day and were able to enjoy lunch, shaker drinks, and camaraderie by the pool, while being shielded from the hot Florida sun.